2.11 - "ON EARTH AS IN HELL"
Directed by Nick Copus
Written by Joe Menosky and Adam Simon
Reviewed by Gavin Hetherington
THE CHARACTERS
SEASON GUIDE
Click on a title to be taken to the review for that episode. Need a catch-up of season one before starting season two? Be sure to read the
ultimate catch-up review of season one.
2.01 - "
Cry Havoc" (April 5, 2015)
2.02 - "
Blood Kiss" (April 12, 2015)
2.03 - "
From Within" (April 19, 2015)
2.04 - "
Book of Shadows" (April 26, 2015)
2.05 - "
The Wine Dark Sea" (May 3, 2015)
2.06 - "
Ill Met By Midnight" (May 10, 2015)
2.07 - "
The Beckoning Fair One" (May 17, 2015)
2.08 - "
Dead Birds" (May 24, 2015)
2.09 - "
Wages of Sin" (May 31, 2015)
2.10 - "
Til Death Do Us Part" (June 7, 2015)
2.11 - "
On Earth As In Hell" (June 14, 2015)
2.12 - "
Midnight Never Come" (June 21, 2015)
2.13 - "
The Witching Hour" (June 28, 2015) -
Advance Preview
'ON EARTH AS IN HELL' REVIEW
Jesus Christ! When Kelly Souders, writer on the show, told me that things only get more intense as the season gets closer to ending instead of slowing down, I knew she wasn't lying. What I didn't expect was just how incredibly intense and electrifying the last few episodes have been and what we're heading to. I mean come on,
Salem hasn't slowed down since its Pilot and I now feel like we're on a rollercoaster that's only going up. We may have had some slower spells as we get some character development this season, but nevertheless, there hasn't been that heart-stopping drop yet. We're continuously moving up and up and up and the excitement of the drop is killing me. I don't think there's ever been a storyline on television that has continuously made me this excited. I need to talk through this episode now and the characters and what I loved about it because it feels like my brain is going to explode keeping this all in.
"Plain Mary, like the plain worthless woman you are."
The episode begins with Mary and after the promos of her being on the stocks - and the photos too - I was extremely worried for her. Her world has come crashing down to her ultimate low, and I thought her low came when her son was taken and Tituba revealed Little John was destined to be the vessel after the Countess revealed it to Mary. I hated seeing my poor Mary being subjected to that humiliation - seeing her with the white make-up and the red cheeks like she was a clown being laughed at by everyone she once ruled over. It was a much-needed moment too, though, to put everything into perspective. The puritans are assholes, that much we definitely know now, thirsty for any kind of bloodshed. We have to wonder - especially after Isaac's very moving free choice speech to Mary - who the bad guys really are? It's definitely not Mary. The puritans choose to want to spill innocent blood, hungry for death. It puts season one into perspective too. What Mary and co. did was very bad with making the puritans kill one another, but we see more of why Mary has such a loathing for them. They really are evil. It broke my heart in two with the puritans throwing food at her and all the horrible things Hathorne was saying, stripping her of her titles and even making her surname-less. Calling her plain and worthless was a big mistake. He's definitely going to face Mary's - and my - wrath. I can't wait for that moment. I guess stripping her of her last name is a good thing, really, even if Mary Sibley is an awesome name that rolls off the tongue. Now Mary's like Madonna. Who needs last names?
"It should have been your day of triumph, not degradation."
Mary's transition from ruthless Puritan-killing witch to a woman with whom we can empathise with has been a remarkable transformation this season. Janet Montgomery must feel so drained after each and every episode due to the amount of humanity and emotion she has to convey. It comes through wonderfully, and I have to admit the camera shots of Mary in the stocks - and later when she is joined by Isaac - were remarkable. I noted that the area of the stocks was the shape of a pentagon. Don't know if that's important but it was good to note due to the significance of the five-sided shape in witch lore, more specifically pentagrams. I liked the scene with Mary and Sebastian at the river too. I could totally believe Mary would jump in and drown herself to stop the consecration, but I bet she had a bigger plan in mind when she knew Sebastian was following her and played to his emotions regarding his mother. I don't think Mary would have just killed herself there and then without saving her son, even if it would have stopped the consecration. She's a smart girl, even if the odds are totally stalked against her. Had to shed a tear for her speech about unconditional love.
"Did you know you're in Hell even now?"
The best parts of the episode were with John Alden, Cotton Mather and Little John. We could call this episode 'the exorcism episode' as I was anticipating at the end of the last episode when Little John went all demonic in the final moments. Exorcisms are something that have been done in movies and occasionally on screen too, but I don't think any of them have done it quite as remarkably as
Salem. I'm even looking at you, classic
The Exorcist. It might be huge praise but I think because we are so invested in these characters and we know the stakes are so incredibly high, we feel more involved in this exorcism. I don't know about you guys but I really wanted it to work. The talk that Little John and John Alden had at the start, about Niagra and where they wanted to go, and stories about John's childhood and if he had any friends, devastated me to be fair. I loved them and it provided more humanity for Little John, but I had a feeling they were making them bond just to tear Little John away at the end. Now I want Mary to stop the consecration more than ever, even though I really wanted it to happen a couple of episodes ago because it looks cool and will open so many doors, but damn I feel emotional when it comes to Mary's little family now.
"Get out of my son!"
Okay, so the actual exorcism was pretty scary. I honestly didn't know what to expect as it started to unravel. I was enthralled more than anything because I know the writers do their research into every historical aspect of the show and so I was watching thinking this kind of thing could have actually happened. I feel like I learn when I watch
Salem. The Lord's Prayer moment was so well acted, kudos to Oliver Bell for that, and from there it just escalated. The part where Little John is on the floor writhing around and the camera is shooting around - chills. I was so grossed out by the wasps coming out of his mouth and I loved Cotton's reactions to it all. Then the devil inside Little John started revealing things to Cotton and I was so shocked yet excited. Cotton now knows that Mary is a witch! Aaah!! That's amazing. I love it when huge secrets like that come out, and also the truth about the Grand Rite - how Mary made the puritans slaughter each other. Cotton is going to go through something after this and I can't wait to see what he's going to do next about it all. It never slows down either, especially when Cotton starts to choke on his own blood and the devil inside Little John starts talking about the father. "I can make the dead dance in the most delightful ways." Oliver Bell's delivery (it probably wasn't his voice but his facial expressions and movements) were on point. Then John stepped into the circle and I was yelling at the screen and the TV was loud and my heart was beating out my chest, then John shouted "get out of my son" and threw him across the room and I could finally breathe. Intensity at its finest right in that moment.
"There's something inside all of us."
And it's not even over. Just wow already. So John knows the Countess is coming when she put him in an illusion to reveal Little John's whereabouts, but it was even more creepy when Little John reveals "she is coming for me". I looked at the runtime and saw there was still a good few minutes left and I was like "what else can they cram into this god-amazing episode?" and they really saved some of the best for last. When John was swarmed by the Countess's consorts, I felt really scared for him. Turns out my fears were justified since the Countess leaves him to fight her son... her Mary-obsessed son. I knew this wouldn't end well for John. While Sebastian may show signs of an alliance with Mary because of his fixation of her, there's no chance in Hell he would let John go unharmed. Or breathing, at all. Is John going to die? How is he going to survive that brutal stabbing? The blood looked like it was gushing from him in waves. I had my hands over my mouth at this point. Then we go to Cotton with Little John and I knew the Countess was going after them. Then Anne appears to them and I was like "hang on, this can't be right." It's not Anne, right? It's the Countess? The way she acted with no sense of true urgency and the heightening of tension before the bell tolls signified it wasn't Anne, or at least not Anne in the true sense that she's under the Countess's control? I watched the promo for the next episode so I'm not sure. If it was Anne, and she's taking the boy to the Countess, then oh my God!
"Whatever you faced, there was never a time when you didn't have a choice."
Speaking of Anne briefly, I loved her scene with Mary after Mary was freed. Now Anne has seen more of Mary's humanity herself, she seems more willing to help her. "Remember who you are, what you are. You are filled with magic. There must be something you can do." I love the idea that Mary and Anne are going to team up against the Countess to save their loved ones. I loved that Anne restored Mary's belief in herself. And boy did I absolutely love Isaac's scenes in this episode. After being the punching bag all season long, he came back fighting in this episode. I needed this to happen. I was starting to give up on Isaac but oh no, he still has a purpose and potential. I was totally spooked by him carrying Dollie but his bursting into the church was awesome and hilarious at the same time. I loved his entrance - "How about that George Sibley was a son of a bitch?" His speech to the people of Salem was awe-inspiring, about how God has forgotten about them and that they brought their own evil along with them and still look to blame others. Then his scene with Mary in the stocks and talking about free choice - I could see this affected Mary. It's something we've discussed about Anne becoming a witch and worrying that her innocence will evaporate, but it all comes down to choice. Is it possible to be a witch and be good? Mary has displayed that in the past few episodes when she stopped focusing on the consecration and busied herself with the saving of her son.
EPISODE VERDICT
This was my favourite episode of
Salem yet. It's so hard for me to say that because I absolutely love so many episodes of
Salem in its 24-episode run so far but this one had every element of the show I love - horror, drama, excitement, moral questioning. Once the tolling of the bell began and the episode ended, I felt like I was dead. That's a very good feeling to have. The cliffhanger of the last episode led me into this episode expecting an exorcism but it came out as so much more. I'm far more invested in the characters saving Little John more than ever and thanks to the beautiful writing of this episode, I could feel the emotion radiate through the screen while still keeping the level of horror and excitement I love about this show. So many amazing scenes built up into one fantastic episode. The scene with John and Sebastian was shocking. Mary in the stocks brought tears to my very eyes. The exorcism was just a revelation.
2 episodes to go and everyone's life is at stake - pardon the pun hehe. But oh boy, I loved season one, but I absolutely definitely five-hundred-million-times-percent adore season two. Bring on the last 2 episodes!
Also, the deadline for submitting questions for me to ask Brannon Braga and Adam Simon - the creators of
Salem - is midnight tonight! If you have any new questions since watching this episode, then feel free to write them in the comments below. I have a plethora of questions to ask them anyway, but you guys still have a chance to send me your questions.
Follow this link for more details.
EPISODE AWARDS
 |
Winner of Best Witch:
Mary. Just Mary. |
Best Witch: Mary. Anne wasn't featured much in this episode and Tituba is still nowhere to be seen. Mary had some great emotional moments. "I've lost everything but I would rather die at my own hand than be the servant of that bitch."
Naughtiest Witch: The Countess. With Mercy still MIA, this award was won by a landslide.
Best Gentleman: John Alden. His protectiveness over his son was amazing and shows just how good a guy he is.
Best Spell: N/A.
Best Line(s): "How about that George Sibley was a son of a bitch?" - ROFL Isaac!
Most Bewitching Chemistry: John Alden and Cotton Mather.
Best Moment: The exorcism.
Most Romantic Moment: Isaac with the dead Dollie. As twisted as that sounds, it really was very touching.
Creepiest Moment: When the Countess was kissing John and she turned into this hideous creature with bugs all over her skin.
Vilest Moment: Little John spewing up wasps. I hate wasps.
Sweetest Moment: Exclusive for this episode as I couldn't not mention this - "You're really truly my father, John Alden?" "Don't ever doubt it." Awwwwww.
What did you think of 'On Earth As In Hell'? Let me know your thoughts on the episode in the comments and be sure to watch the next new episode on June 21 on WGN America at 10PM!
About the Author - Gavin Hetherington
Award-winning author of 'Abyssal Sanctuary: Remnants of the Damned'. Gavin joined SpoilerTV in August 2014 and reviews 2 Broke Girls, Mistresses, Orange is the New Black, Pretty Little Liars, Salem, Scream Queens and Sleepy Hollow. Gavin will write previews for Devious Maids and Shadowhunters, and backs-up Empire, The Flash, iZombie, Once Upon a Time, Reign, Scandal and Supergirl. You can contact him at gavin@spoilertv.com.
How is everyone feeling after the intensity of this episode? Is John Alden going to make it? Was that Anne at the end under the Countess's control, or the Countess herself disguised as her? What's Cotton going to do now he knows Mary is a witch? So many questions so let me know your thoughts in the comments :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I think John Alden will make it all the way until the finale at least, since they keep mentioning him in the press releases, LOL. But after that? I don't know. Didn't the Shaman talk about him not leaving Salem alive? Why is he talking about taking his son to Niagara Falls? Maybe he'll survive the wound because of the ritual they did to him, it has to be good for something, considering he's such a flop witch killer (sorry John, you are).
ReplyDeleteI feel for Mary, I really do and they do a good job of painting the Puritans as just as disgusting as some of the witches, but let's not forget Mary got innocent people killed in S1- like Anne's friend or John's friend, so while I love her and what a complex character she is, no, she's not a "good" person because she's going after horrible puritans, but that's ok, I like complex characters that aren't good or bad, but somewhere in between.
I loved Isaac and John both mentioning the other, it's easy to forget the two were friends, since they hardly interacted after the beginning of S1. I loved Anne's scene with Mary, with her being the one to motivate Mary to not give up, but I couldn't help be amused that Anne had no reaction to John being alive or fathering a child with Mary, given her crush on him in S1. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we moved past that and that needless triangle, but I'd prefer to not simply ignore the show's own history and pretend it never happened.
I was convinced it was the Countess in the end, appearing as Anne, but from the promo it looks like it really was Anne, possibly trying not to let Cotton know she already knows everything he's telling her, I think between the promo and the press release, we're going to have Anne hide the kid (maybe in her hidden room) and the Countess will convince her to give him up.
I loved that Isaac finally was proactive and loved his free choice speech. I'm sorry, but I don't care about his half baked half an episode romance with Dollie, so seeing him continuously call her "my Dollie" when they interacted for maybe two episodes is a bit much.
I loved the return of the Cotton-John bromance, loved John's scenes with his son and the exorcism. Cotton learning about Mary and next week about Anne? Boy will his whole world come crashing down. I love that he decided to go back and try and save John.
I still think we're going to somehow get the devil in a different body. My main theory is still in the good doctor's body, since I doubt they'd bring a known actor in for that part and then just dispose of him that way. But the show keeps bringing up the fact that Sebastian was meant to host the devil, so I don't know. I guess we'll find out next episode, because the press release for 2X13 implies it all goes down next episode.
Haha you're right about John, but would Sebastian just let him walk away before he succumbs to his wounds? Unless John appears to be dead, Sebastian leaves him and then John comes back to life, or something like that? Totally a flop at witch killing!
ReplyDeleteAhh you're totally right about Mary too. You always keep me right haha. I remember how sad it was that Mary got Bridget Bishop killed in episode 2 - Anne's friend. I really feel like we should hate her but it's impossible to do. Now, I think Mary has seen what she has done, especially with the help of Isaac's free choice speech - and this is now her redemption arc that will start with her saving her son.
The thing with Anne and that moment she found out about John and Mary having a son, I think there was a split second pause where she was probably a little taken back by it, but yeah hardly much of a reaction considering how infatuated she was with John. But yeah, love that she motivated Mary. I see those two potentially teaming up. But yeah, the promo threw me off too as I was convinced it was the Countess in disguise. I love how Anne holds quite a bit of power over the Countess with keeping Little John in her room. Anne's really come out of her shell this season.
I'm also glad Isaac was more useful in this episode and came back fighting a little. Cotton/John are always amazing together so yay they are back! I hope we see more of them together if the show is renewed for a 3rd season. The season started with both characters completely on the out, but now they've got a really good thing going on with them.
If it all goes down in the next episode, I'm going to be one happy Heathen! Your theory sounds so logical and I could totally see it happen. I'd also like to be surprised too, so whatever the writers decide to do, I'm sure I'll end up loving.
I am at a loss for words. This show is just everything! What an amazing episode yet again, this season shows no signs of stopping.
ReplyDeleteI loved the scene with Mary and Anne too, it was so nice to see Anne finally wanting to help our Mary and I love her even more for it. But oh my god, that ending with the bell as Anne lead little John away into the night had my jaw on the floor. Literally the first thing that popped into my head is "is that even Anne?!" I cannot wait to see where this is going because I just know all is not gonna be what we expect, this show knows EXACTLY how to throw us off just when we think we know something.
John cannot be dead? he just can't...right? I mean, yeah that was an awful lot of blood but Cotton was already on his way back to find him, maybe he can help save him?
Gosh, I just love how seriously evil the Countess is, she is such a marvellous villain and I adore Lucy Lawless who just keeps knocking it out of the park week in, week out. I am dying to see where her story will go and how the season will end for her character. Sebastian is very obsessed with Mary and it seems like the Countess is growing very impatient with him so I don't think things will end well for him because we know Mary will never give in and be with him.
Isaac!!! He's finally fighting back and it's wonderful. I hate how he's against Mary but we'll let that slide because his speech in the church was amazing. I loved how all that anger he's kept bottled up for so long just finally burst free and he really let all those self righteous pricks have it! I can't wait for Hathorne to get some commupance and I kind of hope Isaac is part of it! Ugh, I need the next 2 episodes in my life right now!!
I'm feeling a little mixed about Tituba and Mercy being missing from the action but they did pack so much into this episode that it's understandable. Hopefully we'll be seeing them again next week (well from the promo we know we'll see Mercy for sure).
For me, Isaac really stole the ep, even though the exorcism scenes were excellent, Isaac standing up to the whole church was just amazing. Too bad it landed him in the stockade.
ReplyDeleteI just love the child actor playing little John. He's so perfect for the role. He reminds of the kid in The Omen movies. All the exorcism scenes were great and seeing how big John already loves him son, and seeing Cotton really trying so hard to do good. Next week's ep is really going to test Cotton when he finds out about Anne.
Was that really Anne at the end? I don't know. I felt the same as you did that I thought for sure it was the Countess in disguise. But the promo for next week seems to indicate it really was Anne.
Mary's ordeal was a sad and scary one, but I'm glad she listened to Anne and snapped out of her depression and despair.
This show just never fails to get better and better. I am thinking Tituba will probably show up in the finale and might even be Mary's ally still. Guess we'll have to see.
I'm not going to lie, I got very emotional when John was telling little John about how he's loved Mary since he was a boy. And how both John's said they missed her. And just thinking how John and Mary's love had created this boy even when they couldn't be together. Like you, I'm becoming very attached to this little family. I just want the three of them to make it and be a family.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, what is with Sebastian's obsession with Mary? I mean I get it, I'm kind of obsessed with her too, but he really needs to back the hell off. Can't he take a hint? She's never going to be into you, dude. I'm sure Mary is going to use his obsession to her advantage and then hopefully John can kill him.
But once again, an amazing episode. Just when I think I can't love it anymore something else unfolds and it just gets wonderfully complicated.
Sebastian only wants Mary because she reminds him of his mother. He's like Norman Bates, he's got a mother fixation.
ReplyDeletehahah, I know. I loved when Mary told him a woman can tell when a man is devoted to another and in his odd case, his mother.
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess that depends on how cocky Sebastian is, or maybe Cotton arrives in time to stop him finishing him off. I need to know how John survives that for at least two more episodes. John, you killed one witch, one guy at the dock we don't know and one seer, whatever he is- I think you need to kill at least 2-3 witches to be called a 'Witch Hunter', because this season you were mostly skulking in the shadows, not doing much killing.
ReplyDeleteLike I said, I love Mary's complex character, but let's not forget S1 or all the innocent people who died, not just vile Puritans. Like I said, I love complex characters. John became more interesting when I found out his past and Anne when she became a witch. I love that the show shows both sides as being pretty bad and I agree with you, Mary is owning up to what she did and now she's trying to redeem herself.
Anne's development this season has been the best. I love the position she's in now. The press release for 2X13 doesn't bode well for her fight for her soul/being good, so we'll see where she ends the season.
I think Isaac may know about Hathorne and the Countess, since he's been on the ship. He called Hathorne a hypocrite and in the promo Hathorne asks Isaac what he wants, implying Isaac holds something over him and they're negotiating. That should make Isaac's story a bit more interesting.
I also hope we get more John-Cotton next season, I missed them having scenes together in the first half of the season, when they hardly interacted. I definitely like how the show managed to involve both John and Cotton as the season went on, since, as you said, both were pretty much on the out in the beginning.
I think next episode will probably end with the ritual either completely succeeding or partially, have you read the press release for 2X13? It's very interesting. I haven't been disappointed yet with the show, so let's see how they wrap the season up.
Yup spending more time caught by witches than he did killing them. I hope Brannon and Adam will shed more light on his infliction in my interview with them - I'm definitely asking that question!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, you're right about Isaac. I hope Isaac will be the crux to Hathorne's undoing - I need Hathorne to pay for his nastiness this season. I could see the loathing in Mary's eyes when he was calling her plain and worthless. She's going to get her vengeance. Nobody does that to Mary and gets away with it. You do have a point about his half-baked romance with Dollie, but it does give Isaac more meat to chew on now since at the start of the season he was a write-off. We almost gave up on him. I guess I'm seeing more of what Dollie represented to Isaac more than the brief romance they had and the extremes he's going to now over her. We have to be glad that she at least sparked something in him to bring his character back to form.
I've read the synopsis of 2x13. It does look very interesting and Mary still tries a last ditch effort to stop the Countess makes me think it only gets partially complete in the next episode and then Mary tries to stop her in the final episode? Maybe? And I'm with you, I've never been disappointed :)
Adam you echo my sentiments exactly! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts! First thing that popped into my head too was "no that's not Anne" but I am so shocked that it could be. Betrayal? Or something bigger in mind? Who knows, maybe Mary sent her to get her son and keep him hidden? Maybe she is working for the Countess? That's what makes it exciting for Anne. Whose side is she really on?
ReplyDeleteYeah I think Cotton does save him considering how John is in the promo for the next episode telling Cotton about Anne being a witch! Sebastian may betray his mother but Mary will betray Sebastian. There's no way Mary will be with him, especially since he almost killed John. There's no easy way out for Sebastian or the Countess so who knows what's going to happen as the season closes.
Yeah I don't like that he's against Mary but I hope she can convince him to give her another chance. He had some great moments didn't he? Haha yes the next 2 episodes just need to air right now. I'm sad Salem isn't a Netflix show cause I need to watch the season in 1 day. The entire season.
I really hope they answer that question, John's story line was a bit of a miss for half the season and we have no idea what was even done to him or how it changed him.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mention this before, but while she was humiliated, I loved Mary's strength and composure- she broke down a bit when she visited Anne, but while facing Hathorne, the town people and the Countess, she was so strong and resilient, I loved it.
Yeah I hope Hathorne gets what's coming to him, if Isaac can bring it, even better. Well, I guess it's nice that they shoved Dollie in a half baked romance so they could fridge her and motivate Isaac. I'm glad she turned on Mercy, but the only reason they did the romance with Isaac was to kill her off in an angsty way and motivate Isaac and I'm not a fan of that.
The finale talks a lot about "seemingly" and "apparent", makes me wonder if the ritual is only half complete or if there's a way to reverse it. Or maybe Little John is lost/dead and Mary decides she has nothing to lose, so she goes after the Countess to kill her.
Aww then you're not the only one who got emotional then. It was very touching and such a beautiful story amongst the horror of Salem. Haha I agree about Sebastian, he's so weirdly obsessed with her. We all kind of are aren't we, but we don't go to extreme measures like him. Mary is sure to use him to her advantage, she's playing with his emotions for his mother. I love it!
ReplyDeleteHaha agree with you completely on not thinking you can love it any more than you already do but it pulls it out of the bag. Thanks for reading and leaving your thoughts!
Loved that part too!
ReplyDeleteI totally see the connection there. Norman and Norma Bates are a crazy mother-son relationship, and I see it in Countess Marburg and Sebastian.
ReplyDeleteIsaac was definitely a scene-stealer in this episode, so what a remarkable return to form for him it was after being down and out all season. I'm guessing he gets out of the stocks quickly, but it provided him and Mary a great moment between the two.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more about the child actor, Oliver Bell. In fact he retweeted this review and said "wow what a review" which was awesome of him to do! What a great actor. Can't wait for Cotton to find out about Anne and what he does next.
I'm conflicted about whether it's Anne too! I was for sure it was the Countess too until that promo. But maybe Mary sent her to get her son to safety and the Countess knows? And Anne keeps the boy protected in her attic? Or she's working with the Countess which I doubt really, but she could be playing her? So many possibilities for Anne, I'm so excited!
I really hope Tituba comes back swinging and on Mary's side. Can't believe only 2 episodes to go though :(
Yeah, it was a bit of a mess to begin with but it seems to have tightened John's purpose up and he's become more relevant to the ongoing story-arc. I forgot to mention Mary's strength during that scene too, damn. It was such an admirable moment and I loved it so much. Glad you pointed that out.
ReplyDeleteHmm another good point about the Dollie thing. I wish they didn't rush it, maybe showed us more scenes with the two together so we could actually believe they were falling for each other. All we really saw was Dollie feeling sympathetic to poor Isaac and so she saved him rather than her saving him out of love. And of course Isaac would see Dollie as his saviour and whether they went the romantic route or not, Isaac owed Dollie his life really because she gave up hers for his. Unintentionally, but she still knew what she was getting into going up against Mercy. So I'm seeing this as more Isaac seeing Dollie as his guardian angel, his saviour, more than his lover.
Hmm good points about the synopsis. It doesn't seem like the ritual was complete in the finale when it goes on about Mary, so you're probably right about Mary going after the Countess with nothing to lose. That would be awesome and as much as I would love a happy family for Mary - that isn't this kind of show. It's a nice thought, but can we really expect happiness this early in the show, especially if the show gets a third season?
I feel like they just didn't know what to do with John for half a season, until the ritual gets started, so they gave him an unexplained Indian ritual and let him skulk or be captured for 8 episodes.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if they would have taken the time to develop the Isaac-Dollie connection, I would have cared about them more as a couple. I did like that she realized how far Mercy went and saved Isaac out of compassion, but to turn it into "my Dollie" and let's run off together is a bit much for me and... Disingenuous? I prefer your take, that Isaac feels indebted to Dollie and saw her as his guardian angel, rather than potential lover.
I definitely don't expect a happy ending for these characters, it's part of the appeal of the show.
That's so kewl Oliver read your review. Alot of industry does read the articles and reviews on this site.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was the Countess and Anne gets little John away from her?
Cotton is totally going to freak out that he's married to a witch. That is going to be big.
Can't wait to see what happens with Mercy, too.
Yes, only two eps. Let's hope we get another season. And I hope we don't get left with too much of a cliffhanger wait.
I know, I was so happy he did! Hmm maybe that could happen! Wouldn't have thought of that one haha. Cotton's reaction and confrontation of Anne is my #1 must-see for this next episode.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best episodes of the season. This second season has not been a let down like most of shows. Every episode brings out something special.
ReplyDeleteIm hoing to disagree in the Best Gentleman category: That oen belongs to Isaac, seeing him stading up in front of all the people in the town not giving a care on what might happen. It was one of the best moments for me.
Sebastian's thing with Mary is crazy ass obsession i hope Mary used that and kills him.
Now about that promo.
WHAT DE FACK. ANNE, REALLY?
Yay I'm glad we share the same feelings Ron! Oh gosh it really was a great moment for Isaac and of course, he stole the show and he totally should have got Best Gentleman. I guess I was more caught up in the story between John and his son more than anything when doing the Awards section. Haha yes, the promo, what the actual fack?! I'm hoping there's something more going on there, but Anne is proper kicking ass this season. Let's see whose side she is really on!
ReplyDelete